Casemaker



May 6, 1952 P. BUNCH ETAL 2,596,068

CASEMAKER Filedlct. 10, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l /N VEN ms PE me 5u/VCH Pf nel? M/ 7 ran/IME May 6, 1952 P. BUNCH ETAL CASEMAKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed OCT.. l0, 1946 VEN Tan/@5 Pfff@ 50N CH PETE@ M/rmMME P. BUNCH ET AL CASEMAKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. l0. 1946 S E5. Ki an 6 @www m NNmM A fhw .Ewff V /Jm mmMH.. Pnw. RW @Q QW PF m. WU Ly V /M May 6, 19:52 P. BUNCH ETAL CASEMAKER `5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 10, 1946 PETE/e BUNCH Pfff/P M/TTOMME I i ing tables.

.la rounded binding back.

Vend 4rollers --at one,` stage 'of the lend rollers at Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CASEMAKER Peter4 Bunch, Chicago, Peter Mittomme, Cicero, and Russell Jennings, Chicago, Ill., assignors' to Wilson-J ones Compan `ration of Massachusetts y, Chicago, Ill., a corpo- :Application ctober lil, 1946 Serial No; 702,390

This invention relates to a casemaker for applying` `binding ,material toA a back and a pair .of cover :boards to form. aicase or lcover for loose leaf binders.

Casemakers have been used in the manufacture of cases for looseleaf binders for many years and have reduced the expense of manufacturing cer- :tain types of loose leaf binders considerably because of their tremendous operating speed. However,` theeflicient use cf casema-kers vvasV limited to binders having a flat back because no casemakergcould .bind a case with a roundedbinding backf in place. Attempts had been made at running arcasemaker Without a binding back and theninserting arounded binding back after the casefwas completed except for the back. These attempts-Were unsuccessful because the edges of `the binding material that coveropposite surfaces of the ends of the binding back in the completed .binder were` glued together in the casemaker, and

the `-timerequired to separate these glued edges in order to insert the rounded binding back Was -soL great that the total manufacturing cost for lthisttype of operation was greater than when the caseswere made entirely onconventional glu- Attempts `have also been made to modify the ,glue applying mechanism in a casemaker so that'area of'theedges that must be glued to .the edges ofthe rounded binding back do not receive anygglue, in the casemaker, but

these` attempts have-` also been unsuccessful.

It is Vone object of our invention to provide a casemaker capable of` binding a` rounded binding back into a caseffor locseleaf binders. It

Ais a furtherobject of our invention to provide simple means that may be readily applied to a conventionalcasemaker to-adapt it to the manu- `facture of cases for loose. leaf binders having Other objects of our invention -Willbecome apparent upon reading .the following description,taken in conjunction with rtheaccompanying drawings, in which:

.12 therounded binding 4,backV into position in the case ,Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the struci ture shown in Figure/l Figure 6 isa top planiview` of 4tl1e apparatus `for. positioning 'the rounded binding backs inpositicn to be fedto the case, taken :along the line VI-VI of Figure '7 so as `to showthe relative position of the suction holding device;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view, taken, substantiallytalong the line `VIH-VII of Figure 6I but showing a portion of the structure for ,feeding the rounded binding back to the case;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the suction holding deviceandl the rollers from which theA rounded binding, back is fed;

Figure 9. isa longitudinal sectional `vievv taken substantially along-.the line IX-IX of Figure 6,

but showing Ya portion ofthe structure for feeding the rounded binding back-to the case;

`Figure 10 is a cross sectional view takenalong the lineX-X of Figure 6;

`Figure l1 is a cross sectional View taken along the line XI-XI of Figure 9;

Figurelz'is a detail perspective view `of the rounded binding back;

Figure i3 is-a fragmentary perspective rview showing a plurality of 'cases .as they appearin the casemaker, just before and after the rounded binding backtis positioned thereon;

Figure lli-isa detail perspective view cfa case before the rounded binding back is bound in; and

Figure l5 isla detail perspective view of a completed case, ready for having aringmetal secured thereto.

Much ci theapparatus 'shown' diagrammatically in the drawings is conventional` and Willrnot be described in` detail asit does notconsttute any partof; the invention. Such" structure has to fbe shown, however, to make it possible to get a general understanding of `thefentire Adeviceso that thespecic improvements `vvhich'arethe subject` of the` present invention maybe clearly Vun" derstood.

.Briefly described the `casenialrercomprises a spindle 2 from-whichV a roll 4of `fabric crother binding material 3 is fed` into contact with a glue rollerii to apply a tacky coating on one surface of the binding material. The binding mate- .rialywith` its tacky surface uppermost, is fed past a pair of stacks of cover boards't-and 6. -Pneumatically controlled-suction 'devices i1-and 8 each lift one cover board oi each stack lrandf `and then'press them -down in predetermined position on the tacky surface of the bind-inginaterial.

`ready to receive a ring metal.

After the suction devices 'l and d are released and have started on their next cycle the binding material and cover members are fed through a pair of pressure rollersV e and l@ which adhere the cover boards iirmly to the binding material. A A

shuttle mechanism l i positioned just beyond the pressure rolls 3 and IB is moved intermittently by a power driven main shaft i2. The shuttle clamps each board and the binding material and `moves them to the right, as seen in Figure l.

`material at regular spaced intervals.

After the corners I3 are cut, the fabric and covers are moved to a mechanism for positioning the round binding back I5 on the binding material between the cover boards. The next mechanism rolls the sides of the binding material against the covers. These mechanisms constitute an essential part of our invention and will be hereinafter described in detail.

, After the sides of the binding material'are rolled down against the cover boards the binding material continues on its movement until it reaches a knife i6 lwhich is also synchronised with thel feeding movement of the shuttle I l and descends at regular intervals to separate the binding material transversely along a line ex-V tending from the notch or corner I3 to the oppoYY site notch or corner It. The ends of the binding material are rolled down against the cover boards by sets of rollers Il and I8. The rollers are moved vertically and springs li9 and 2t, shown better in Figures 2 and 3, pull the rollers against the ends of the vbinding material. Since the knife I6 has severed the bindingr material the feeding movement of the shuttle no longer controls the movement of the case. A series of rollers'ZI and 22, positively driven from the main shaft I2', feeds the cases from the knife i6 to a chain conveyor 23 which is also driven from the main shaft and is provided with upstanding lugs 24 to push the case along as the chain moves. I6, end rollers I'I, i8, feeding rollers 2l, 22 and the chain conveyor 23 are all conventional and do not constitute part of the present invention.

The chain conveyor 23 moves the case into contact with a round cornering machine 25. The round cornering machine includes four arms 26, 2'I, 28 and 23 each adapted to hold down one corner of the case and four presser arms 36, 3l, 32 and 33 which slide towards each corner and fold the binding material around each corner of the case and are then retracted when the unit carrying the arms 25, 2l, 28 and 29 is lifted. This portion of the round cornering machine is old, but We have added thereto a transverse pressure bar 34, shown also in Figures 4 and 5, for securing the sides of the binding material 3 over the ends of the rounded binding back I5. When the case is carried from the round cornering machine by the chain conveyor 23 it is finished and is The attachment of the ring metal is a separate, subsequent operation, not connected with the casernaker.

Referring specically to Figures 6 to l1, inclusive, the means for positioning the rounded binding back on the case includes a chute 35 which The knife is grooved, as indicated at Sii in Figure ll, to conform to the curvature of the rounded binding back. The rounded binding backs are inserted in the chute and are then slid along the chute under flanges 3l and Se. The chute 35 is adjacent to a pair of rollers 39 and 4i! provided with longitudinal grooves 4i and 42 in registration with the space between the top edges of the groove 3S and the underside of the flanges 31, 33 so that the binding backs may be pushed through the chute 35 and the edges of each will engage in the grooves 4I, 42 in succession. The grooves are provided with overhanging anges 43, t4 at the entering end to prevent the binding backs from being pushed out of the chute 35 into engagement with the rollers E5 and 49 when the grooves 4I and 4?: are not in proper registration with the chute. The grooves il and 42 are moved out of registration with the chute 35 only for a very short interval of time when rollers 3s and 43 are rotated downwardly by the downward movement of the binding back 'I5 towards the binding material 3. One of the rollers 3Q has a collar t5 secured thereto to stop the sliding movement of each binding back in proper position. The succeeding binding back is not pushedV into contact with the collar i5 until after the suction cup assembly, hereinafter described, moves up to clear the space between grooves 4I and` 42.

The rollers 3d and 40 are rotatably mounted in brackets t3 and 4l which are secured to the bed it of the casemaker. Each roller 33, 4D has a wheel (i9, mounted thereon, as shown in Figure l0. A pin 5I, 52 projects laterally fromA each wheel and the ends of the pins rest on xed supports 53, 5ft when the rollers are positioned with the grooves 4l, 42 ready to receive the edges of a rounded binding back. A tension spring 55, 56 is secure at one end to the pin 5I, 52, and at its other end to the base plate 5i which is secured to the bed 48. AsV each binding back is moved downwardly from Vthe rollers 3S, 40 to the binding material, ina manner hereinafter more fully described, the rotation of the rollers to release the edges of the binding back from the grooves 4I, 42 causes the pins 5I, 52 to move upwardly from the supports 53, 5d against the action of the springs 55, 55 as long as positive rotation of the rollers 3Q, @El continues. Since this positive rotation is caused by the engagement of the edges of the binding back with the grooves it will stop as soon as the edges of the binding back are free of the grooves. The springs 55, 56 will then bring the pins 5I, 52 back to their position of rest on the supports 53, 54 and the rollers 39, 40 will have their grooves I', t2 positioned to receive the next binding back.

The apparatus for feeding the binding back i3 from the rollers 3S) includes a suction cup assembly 58 which comprises a plurality of suction cups 53, a housing 6G, a stem 6I and a flexible suction hose 62. As may be seen in Figure 1, the iiexible suction hose is connected to a valve housing et. A valve control 64 projecting from one wall of the housing engages a cam 65 mounted on the main drive shaft I2 and is controlled thereby. This control is synchronized with the vertical movement of the suction cup assembly so that as the assembly moves downwardly the suction is on and the binding back is held rmly against the suction cups. This prevents the binding back from falling after it is'released from the grooves 4I, 42, and insures proper positioning of the back on the binding material. When the binding back is initially secured to :decades I thebindingmaterial the suction .isf automatically :ibindin'gi material.

:.The ivertical movement of :the` suction cup :assemblyfistcontrolled:byzta .cam '.56 `(Figure 1) :alsoi mounted :on the; main :drive shaft l 2 The f cam.` governs li the :action :off ai rocker: arm El vby .meansofsaipinf 68 `vvhit'xhxiprojects'laterally `from f.' one 'l end fof the :rockeriarm'iandrides over the pam. .The other end of therrockerfzarm is pivotally secured'. to J a. link '.69; ass indicated `fat 10. The upperendoi the' link v|59: is pivotally `secured to a cross arm ll, as indicated at 12. The cross arm is pivotedrat'illFigure 9) to an upright 14 securedtoithelbed. .A cross bar 'l5 extends laterallyfrornlthe` middle of the upright M and is rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner. The free end f thecross bar l5 has a vertical `guide 'f5 rigidly secured thereto.

A vertically depending arm 'il has a pin 'I8 projecting laterally vto engage a slot 19 in the end of the cross arm 'H'so that the depending arm ll will move vertically with the pivotal Amovement of .the .cross .arm 1l A tension spring l80 hasfone-end `securedzto.theurcross arm" 1| and :its .other end.to..the.cross,bar '15, as indicated at '8| .andrei respectively, .tozzpull the right hand portion-Itas viewed in Figurer@ of `thezcross arm I, andi the .depending arm '11,:down immediately f aftenthe cam. 66, .actingfthrough the rocker. arm El and linkti), haspulledlthe'arm Tlup. .Ittwill :be seen `from Figure 1 thatfassoon asthearin 'l1 is raised the high section of the cam moves out of contact With the pin 63 and there is nothing to interfere with the action of the spring im. The depending arm 1'! ts Within the channels 83, 84 on the vertical guide 'l and its vertical movement is guided thereby. A clamp B5 is rigidly secured to the arm 1l and moves therewith. The clamp is secured also to the stem 6| of the suction cup assembly so the suction cups move up and down with the arm 11.

As the binding material 3 moves into position to receive the rounded binding back I5 guide` members 89 turn the ends of the binding up so that they are substantially vertical when the the binding material comes to rest, a pair oi holding members 81 move down against the cover boards to hold them in position while side rollers 88 move inwardly over both edges of the binding material to adhere them to the cover boards. The holding members 81 are cut out, as indicated at 8S, to provide clearance for the rounded binding back I5. The rollers S8 are also recessed or cut away, as indicated at 90, to provide clearance for the rounded binding back.

When the case is positioned in the round cornering machine for the round cornering operation the sides of the binding material are pressed into contact with the ends of the rounded binding back by means of a presser arm 9| secured to the undersurface of the block S2 which constitutes part^of the round cornering mecha- Vnisrn and reciprocates vertically relative to the bed 48 upon which the case rests. As shown best in Figures 4 and 5, the presser arm 9| comprises a cross piece 93 secured to the block 92 and hav- .ingz'blocksd securedfat itstends. This leaveszthe :centen portion clear .so` that 4,thejpresser arm` may '.:besused with binding-backs thatl have prongsprojecting therefrom for the attachment, fatwalater operation, of a. ring metal. The presser arm could :he madeof .a;.so1id. block of woodVbut-wegprefer i the;` structure illustrated because it maybe used favith anytypegof'bindingback. kThe lowersurfaces oftheblockszG/are curved, as indicatediat 9d; to conform to the curvature of thezbinding .back so `that the binding material vis pressed :smoothly against the binding'back.

From theforegoins it will. be seen that'yve have modified a conventional casemaker to adapt it forrmakingcases for `loose leaf bindersrhaving described, `except as limited by claims.

'We claim:

.1..A casemaker comprising aflat bed for sup- .porting .a 1 sheet @of binding material, a .pair of the appended .rollers havingmeansto hold a binding' back above saidilat bed,nmeans.actuating said rollersto. re-

`lease.saidbinding back, and means'including a work engaging member Aengaging the top surface of the bindinghack `and moving it downwardly,

`thereby for moving :said binding back to a' sheet of: binding: material positioned on said Iiat bed.

2. A casemaler comprising a flatbed for supporting a sheet of binding material, a pair of rollers grooved longitudinally to hold the edges of a binding back, said rollers being positioned above said flat bed, and means engaging the top surface of the binding back and movable vertically between said rollers to move said binding back from said grooved rollers to a sheet of binding material positioned on said ilat bed.

3. A casemaker comprising a flat bed for supporting a sheet of binding material, a pair of rollers grooved longitudinally to hold the edges of a binding back, said rollers being positioned above said flat bed, means engageable With the top surface of a binding back held by said rollers and movable downwardly to rotate said rollers to release said edges from said grooves, said means operable to hold said binding back thereagainst and to position it on a sheet of binding material positioned on said flat bed, and means to move said rollers back to holding position automatically upon release of a binding back therefrom.

4. In a casemaker, a pair of rollers each provided With a longitudinal groove to hold opposite lateral edges of a binding back, means including a work engaging member movable between the rollers for rotating said rollers to release a binding back held by its edges in said grooves, spring means to 'rotate said rollers in the opposite direction as soon as a binding back is released therefrom, and means limiting the reverse rotation of said rollers to the position in which said grooves are adapted to hold said edges of a binding back.

5. A casemaker comprising a hat bed for supporting a sheet of binding material, a pair of rollers grooved longitudinally to hold the edges of a binding back, iianges on said rollers adjacent one side of said grooves to prevent movement of said binding back upwardly from said grooves. and means including a work engaging member movable between'saidrollers for releasing said binding back from said rollers and positioning it on a sheet of binding material positioned on said flat bed.

6. A casemaker comprising a at bed for supporting a sheet of binding material, a pair of rollers having meansV to hold a binding back therebetween, and suction eontrolled'holding means operable to engage the upper surface of a binding back held between said rollers and to move downwardly between said rollers while holding said binding back to thereby move said binding back from said rollers to a sheet of binding material positioned on said at bed.

7.- In a casemaker, a pair of rollers grooved 1ongitudinally to hold the edges of a binding back,

an arm positioned above said rollers and movable vertically therebetween, a suction cup mounted on the bottom of said arm, the suction force of said cup being synchronized with the Vertical movement of said'arm, said suction cup in its downward movement being adapted to release to out off said suction force between the start of the upward movement of said arm.

A'close said valve at predetermined intervals, said openingrmovement corresponding with the start of said downward movement of said arm, and said closing movement corresponding with the start of the upward movement of said arm.

PETER BUNCH. PETER MITTOMME. RUSSELL JENNINGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile o this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 391,266 Ogden 1-.. Oct. 16, 1888 490,895 Bredenberg Jan. 31, 1893 1,196,676 Gray Aug. 29, 1916 1,855,132 Jones et al Apr. 19, 1932 1,916,723 Ferrar July 4, 1933 2,236,336 Easton Mar. 25, 1941 2,294,273 Buxbaum Aug. 25, 1942 2,335,064 Kabel Nov. 23, 1943 2,352,926 Weiss July 4, 1944 

